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Minnesota Vikings’ Everson Griffen Sustains Concussion in Crash After Swerving To Avoid Deer

Minnesota Vikings defensive end Everson Griffen will have to miss the team’s upcoming game this weekend after he suffered a concussion. But it’s not for the reason you think.

Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer told reporters on Friday that the four-time Pro Bowler suffered a concussion after he was involved in a car accident. As a result, he has now entered the NFL’s concussion protocol. Evidently, Griffen was trying to avoid a deer in the road when he swerved and injured himself. It’s still unclear where exactly the crash occurred but Zimmer said Griffen was on his way to the team’s practice facility when the accident took place.

“Swerved to miss a deer,” Zimmer told members of the media. “Got in a car accident.”

Other than the information that Zimmer has given so far, there isn’t much else known about the crash. And it’s unclear if Griffen sustained any other injuries other than a concussion. What we do know is that the team first listed Griffen with a concussion on their official injury report on Friday and that he sat out of practice.

It goes without saying that being without Griffen on Sunday will be a blow to the team. Despite now being 33 years old, Griffen still has the knowledge and the skills to be an effective pass rusher for the Vikings. For his entire career (90 starts), he has a total of 80.5 sacks.

Bad Timing for Minnesota Vikings’ Everson Griffen

There is obviously never a good time to get in a car accident, but the time was especially bad for Everson Griffen. The veteran defensive end had just made his way back for his second stint with the team in August. He had previously played in Minnesota from 2010 until 2019. Last year, however, he split time playing with both the Dallas Cowboys and the Detroit Lions.

But this time around, Griffen had an immediate impact in the Vikings’ first game of the season. Against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 1, he played 40 percent of the team’s snaps. But he won’t be having an impact in Week 2 against the Arizona Cardinals with the team already having ruled him out. In his absence, Minnesota will have to rely on players like Stephen Weatherly, Patrick Jones II behind starters Danielle Hunter and D.J. Wonnum.

Unfortunately for the Vikings, the veteran defensive end won’t be the only prominent player sitting out on Sunday. Minnesota has also already ruled out rookie left tackle Christian Darrisaw (groin). They’ve also ruled out linebacker Anthony Barr (knee), and cornerback Harrison Hand (hamstring). In addition linebacker Eric Kendricks has been listed as questionable.

The Week 2 matchup between the Vikings and Cardinals will kick off at 4:05 p.m. on Sunday afternoon.